Rob Lucas In The Morning

RLITM Christmas Music Stocking Stuffer

by Rob Lucas,posted Dec 1 2013 2:08PM

Photo source: comedy_nose, via Flickr

Rob Lucas In The Morning loves the Andy Williams version of Winter Wonderland because...it's so different! When you think of this song, probably 5 or 6 other versions first come to mind, or could be considered more popular versions. But there's some very cool things about the "Andy" version:

The unexpected changes in key or octave throughout the song. Listen to the way he says "listenin'" and "Bluebird" in the first two lyrics. Not your traditional sing. Same for when the line "we can build a snowman" continues to climb, instead of dropping down on the "man."

The jazzy scat riff that Andy takes off on for about the last 15 sec of the song

The final "Sleigh Bells Ringggggggggg" over the last 5 seconds, that almost reek of the recording tape getting wobbly on the reel back when it was recorded (1965!) and them not wanting to do it over again upon listen-back.

Whether that wobble is pure happenstance, or totally intended, it's pure joy, and something that might have gone unnoticed in the myriad of Winter Wonderland's you hear of the holidays! GIve it a 2 minute and 9 sec listen